“Yep.”
I pocketed my phone, shook off the post-mom-call annoyance, and walked out into the hall. Blake stood behind Payton, his arms draped around her. False alarm. No murderers in sight. I stared at his hand on Payton’s waist and my stomach flip-flopped. I was happy for them, truly, I was, but I wanted that so damn bad. For a guy to be so nuts for me that I was all he thought about for two years when we were apart. They’d dated in high school, but when Payton’s mom died and her dad went to jail, she went AWOL. Blake spent two years looking for her, and they finally got back together when she came back to Drexler last year.
I pushed that thought out of my mind and smiled at my roomie and Mr. Romeo. Back to pretending everything was sunshine and rainbows. The Jules they expected.
“I’m ready, bitches. Let’s roll.”
Blake unhooked his arms from Payton and grabbed his keys from his pocket. “We just need to make one stop before we head out.”
“Yeah?”
“My best friend is back in town, and I invited him.” He turned to Payton. “I thought you told her.”
“I didn’t have time. I was busy at the coffee shop, and then it slipped my mind.” She looked at me and shrugged. “Sorry.”
“This person have a name?”
“Besides douche?”
Blake picked up Payton and flipped her over his shoulder, and she let out a squeal. Her legs flailed as she thumped his back with her hand. “He’s not that bad. Cut him some slack.”
I shook my head and walked out of the apartment, leaving them to their pervy tickle-fest. I knew long-term wasn’t in the cards for me at this point, but when it was shoved in my face every day, it made it hard not to want it, too.
Five minutes later, Blake and Payton came out of the apartment, Payton looking a little flushed as she smoothed her crooked shirt. I shook my head. Good for her. At least someone was getting some. Which brought me back to thinking about Ryan’s arms…and how I wished they were wrapped around me right now. Those large, calloused hands skimming down my back. As I piled into the back of Blake’s truck, I wondered if he was having fun with his friends tonight.
Five minutes later, we pulled into a subdivision of expensive houses, owned by people with decent jobs. Jobs that I would have someday when I graduated med school and paid off the swimming-pool-sized student debt I’d accumulated. But was this kind of wealth really worth it if I’d be doing something that made me miserable? Hopefully, after a few years, I’d get used to it, maybe even like being a doctor.
Blake’s truck rolled into the driveway of a two-story colonial. Two massive white pillars stood on either side of a red door. Add in a white picket fence and this would be a fairy-tale house. Dang, what did his friend’s parents do for a living? Blake laid on the horn and a few seconds later, a built guy in a baseball cap slipped out the front door and made his way over to the truck.
I did a double take. Wait a minute…those biceps looked awfully familiar. And that nicely defined chin. And definitely that dirty blond hair fraying out beneath the cap. Shit. What did Blake say this guy’s name was? Ry? As in short for Ryan? The same Ryan from my work was Payton and Blake’s Ryan?
I sunk deeper into my seat, not sure how to react when he opened the door. My hand flew to my wet hair. Damn, I didn’t even style it. My fingers ran over the patch of zits on my chin. Crappity crap, I hadn’t even thrown on concealer. He’d probably be staring at it all night, grossed out. Well, there went my good flirting situation at Office Jax.
Ryan pulled open the passenger door behind Blake and stood there, staring at me, his piercing blue eyes pinning me to my seat. Oh God, so not prepared for this. Forget A game, I was clear down to C game at this point. My stomach flopped, and I crossed and uncrossed my legs nervously as we held each other’s gaze.
Chapter Ten
Ryan
The one girl who had been on my mind since I got back from work was sitting in the back of Blake’s truck, like an answered prayer.
Blake turned around in the driver’s seat and smiled at me. “Hey, buddy.”
“Sup.”
“Ryan, this is—”
“Jules.”
Blake shook his head and his eyebrows furrowed, clearly confused as to how I knew her. “She works at Dad’s store.” I turned to Jules, who sat huddled in the corner. I couldn’t tell by the look on her face if she was excited or disappointed to see me. Hell, I didn’t know what I felt either.
I got in the truck, this whole reunion thing getting awkward, and closed the door. “Hey, P-dawg.”
Payton didn’t have to turn around for me to know that she had a glare painted on that pretty face. She hated my nickname for her, one I had started in eighth grade.